The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have announced the killing of a founding member of Hamas and one of the chief architects of the October 7 massacre during a targeted airstrike in the Gaza Strip.
Hakeem al-Issa, who served as Chief of the Combat and Logistics Support Unit within the military wing of Hamas, was eliminated in a precision strike in the Sabra neighborhood of Gaza City, according to the IDF’s official statement.
Israeli military sources described al-Issa as a “central source of knowledge” within Hamas and one of the last remaining senior operational commanders who held high-ranking positions prior to the October 7 attacks and had remained inside the Gaza Strip.
Al-Issa was reportedly instrumental in overseeing Hamas’s military build-up in the enclave, founding its operational command division, and leading training efforts for militants. He also served as a key member of Hamas’s General Military Council.
According to the IDF, al-Issa played a “critical role” in the planning and execution of the October 7 assault that resulted in the deaths of more than 1,200 Israeli civilians and soldiers, the worst single-day attack on Israel in decades.
Since the outbreak of war in Gaza, al-Issa had reportedly continued directing operations, facilitating terror plots by land, air, and sea, targeting both Israeli civilians and IDF forces operating in the Strip. Military officials added that he had been actively involved in efforts to rebuild Hamas’s damaged infrastructure during the ongoing conflict.
The killing of al-Issa marks a significant blow to Hamas’s military command structure and is expected to further degrade its operational capabilities, already weakened by months of intensive Israeli airstrikes and ground operations.
This latest development comes amid escalating regional tensions and a widening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, as international calls for a ceasefire continue to grow.
